Friction box structure for straight knitting machines



June 3, 1952 Q FEGLEY 2,598,986

FRICTION BOX STRUCTURE FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 22, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR Charles .22 1e i 53 BY M QZZ-Z ATTO R N EY June 3, 1952 c. R. FEGLEY 2,598,986

FRICTION BOX STRUCTURE FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 22, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR AZI'TORNEY Patented June 3, 1952 FRICTION BOX STRUCTURE FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Charles It. Fegley, Laureldale, Pa., assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 22, 1950, Serial No. 202,232

12 Claims.

This invention relates to friction boxes for full-fashioned knitting machines and more particularly to boxes of the type having two sets of shoes.

The yarn carriers of ordinary full-fashioned knitting machines are fixed to carrier rods or bars which are connected for operation to friction boxes releasably and frictionally connected to reciprocating friction rods. The friction boxes are adapted to be clamped to and released from the friction rods by operating levers usually worked by hand. The friction boxes are provided with metal shoes equipped with friction leathers which are pressed toward the rods by springs when said levers are turned in a certain direction. The springs are adjusted to exert sufiicient pressure to cause the friction boxes, and hence the yarn carriers, to move at the same speed as the friction rods when free to do so but to permit the boxes to slip on their rods when the yarn carrier bars are stopped by adjustable stops which determine their throw or length of travel.

Such friction box structure naturally places a good deal of wear on the leathers with consequent liability to irregular and unsatisfactory operation of the boxes. With a view to lessening these troubles, the boxes have been made longer to accommodate two sets of shoes and their leathers per box per rod, thereby reducing the unit pressure on the leathers for a given grip on the rod, at least when first installed. However, various troubles then developed in the line of obtaining and maintaining the same pressure on the different shoes and leathers of given friction boxes. These troubles have flowed in part from complexity of design and in part from difficulty in maintaining the pressure transmitting means in a position to apply an equal pressure to both sets of shoes. I

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a friction box having two sets of friction shoes in alinement longitudinally of a friction rod and which will be reliable and uniform in action as well as mechanically simple.

A further object of the invention is to provide a friction box having two sets of friction shoes in alinement longitudinally of a friction rod with a pressure transmitting means adapted to equalize pressure applied to the two sets of shoes to frictionally connect the friction box to the friction rod.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel elements, features of construction and cooperation of parts, as

2 hereinafter more particularly pointed out, in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a friction box according to the invention as it appears from the left of the machine and showing the shafts and carrier rods associated with the box in section;

Fig. 2 is a view of the parts as viewed in the direction of arrows 2-2 of Fig. 1 and turned at relative to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of certain of the internal elements of the friction box of Fig. 2 and with the housing member omitted;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, certain parts including the friction box housing being omitted;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 08 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings and. description, only the means necessary to a complete understanding of the invention are specifically set forth; further information as to the construction and operation of other related, usual and well known knitting machine elements, mechanisms, etc., may be found in one or more of the following publications:

1. Pamphlet, entitledFull-Fashioned Knitting Machines-published and copyrighted by the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pennsyl- Vania, in 1920. I

2. Four catalogs entitled-The Reading Full- Fashioned Knitting Machine Parts Catalogpublished and copyrighted by the Textile Machine Works, in 1929, 1935, 1940 and 1947, respectively.

3. Booklet entitled-The Reading High Production Full-Fashioned Knitting Machinewhich, forming a supplement to the above noted 1940 parts catalog of the Textile Machine Works, is a publication of the Textile Machine Works, copyrighted by the latter in 1940.

4. Pamphlet entitled-Knitting Machine Lectures-published by the Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, in 1935.

In the drawings, there is shown a double friction box, that is, one arranged to operate in connection with either one of the two friction box channel shape whereby it is adapted to embrace the'rod and the lower members of setsofrrietal shoes and friction leathers arrangedlongitudinally of the rod and used to applypress'ur'e totlie leathers between the shoes and the friction" box rod. Said yoke member is open at the top sothat y it can be readily fitted around the' lower shoe's pivoted on the yoke for applying pressure t'o' tli'e shoes and friction leathers to clamp theinja st thefri'ctio'n' boxrod'; Said equalizingb'ridg piece or member is arranged to" have itsmid-pointurider the cam and its ends-resting Qnfthe points'of thesprings, theequalizing piece being free to tilt to maintain equal pressure on thetwo springs and'fre'e'to movedown' and" up=as the pressure from the-cam and the springs dictates but being guided in the yoke in such-manner a's to prevent movement relative 'to'the yoke Referring to the'drawings'indetailand moreparticularly' to'Fi'gs; 1 and 2, indio at e's pthe usu'al yarncarrier rods or barsof afull-fa'shioned knittin'g'machineorie of which is} shownconheotd to and operatedby a'frictiori box lz bymeansor; a dog men the carrier rod'and asl'ide lt on the-fr-iction box, the slide having a portion l8 forerig'algin in a recess in the dog. Slide I B is adapted to be positioned to drivea'ny one'of several of the rods It, being mounted to slide and be releasably held in the friction box I2 by a spring pressd detent means" ll' (Fig. 1) in a well kndwrrmanner. As shown, box [2 comprises afrztn'ie orhoiising'il'li adapted to be frictionally engaged to eitherakhigh speed friction rod or a'slow or half-spee'd'fr iction rod 22. The box IZisprovided-with ai-rrie'niber 28 which is adaptedto engage 'stopprojectio'ns and Zion rods 23* and- 26,- theme'mbei, stops" and rods being a part of'a usual shock absorber mechanism'for reducing the impact of the carrier rods on their end-stops when the'b'ox isengagedto the: high speed friction rod 20. The shock absorber mechanism, shown in detail in the} aforementioned 1947 Reading catalog, forms' nopart of the present invention-and is not further referred toh'erein;

Means 30 whereby" friction box I2 may be frictionally engaged to a rod such as 2=0 coin prises-a yokeor member 32'bestshown in Fig. 3.

Yoke'32 has a generally U'-shape in end eleva= tion' to'erhbrace rod 20 as'shown in Fig. 51 The sides of yoke 3'2 are out out iiitheir' mid-portions as shown in Fig. 3, leaving strap portions 34a-nd 35 which extend'transversely of and beneath the rod'as' shown in Fig. 4, while the upper portions of the sidesof member 32 extend-across the cutouts inthesides' as shown at tt-to complete the yoke. Two' lower shoes 38 and 40 and their friction leathers 42 and respectively, lie between the strap portions 34 and--35. {The shoes are composite units, the leather portions being fixed to the metal portions, usually by rivets, not shownr Two upper shoes 46 and 48 having friction leathers 4| and 43,'respectively,areshown also/these lying on top of rod 20- and extending. one after the other along the rod'as in the case 4 of shoes 38 and 40. However, on top of the upper shoes 46 and 48 are springs 45 and 41 respectively, the springs being held in place by screws 49, as shownin Figs. 2 and 8. The shoes 38 and 46 will 'be seeii' -to' forfn a pair and 'the shoes- 40 and aaa'notnerpair, the paifs of' sl'ioes abutting each other on the central transverse plane of box l2. Iiiorder to support the yoke 30 and thereby the lower shoes38=a=nd 40', the upper portions 36 of 'th'eyokehave spacing sleeves or collars 52 fixed thereto (see Fig. 6), the collars having apertures 5Tthereiirin wfiiohuspivotally mounted a gudgcon 53". A K51 is fixed to the gudgeon 56 betwe'en thecolla'rs 5'2"by means of a set screw 55,

- fig;- 52

As best shown in Fig. 4, an equalizer member 531s placed between the springs 45 and 41 and the cam 54. Member 58is in the form of a bridge having anefidrest'ingo ubstantially the midpoint o'fiea clifo'f springs-245mm and the midpoint of the bridgelyirig under substantially the mid-point of gudgeon 58. It will be seen thatany ressure"e$rerteadownwardly by cam' 54 against 5 arr ereby" against springs 45 and fireaet agairis the earn 54 gudgeon 5t and y ke ZttJ' 'exertariequal upwaird pressure against the' l'ow'er shoes 38*and difthrough'strap portions 34 and 353 The tensio'n iristrap portions 34 and: twisf'eduali'zed' asbetwee'n'the two of them by" thefact that member '58 floats freely between the carr'iandthespririgssdfar as oscillatory and up and dowrf' movements are concerned in a manner'h'ereinafter set fortli. The two pairs of shoesthereforecla'mp thefriction box rod 20 between" them with pressure in proportion to the forcejexerted' by hub 'orcam 54*against member 53. Iii-order toperrn'it cam 54 to apply force or pressureto membeijii"and to release it, the cam h'a'sa low peruse "b'lending into a'flat portion 59, the flat portion of the cam acting to apply pressuretothe member, as shown in Fig. 4, by engagement afiat'- surface 60 on the member; Thefpres'surebetween the'two flat surfaces 59 and; 6'3 c'adsedby the" reaction of springs 45 and tl" when'tlie'parts' are in theposition shown Fig. 4" releasably maintains the parts in this position} It is evident therefore that cam 54-acts also both as means to compress springs 41 when desired and alsoaspositioning means for theca'r'n: Whenevercam fiil'isturned to the position iii which 10w point 551sin contact with fiat of bridge 58; pressure on the springs is relaxedaiidhliebox IZc'anbe'rhoved relative to the mcuo'nrods as: desired: 'r'o permit the hub-like earn 5 2 to befturiied' to apply pressure to the springs and shoes; it has a handle 62 thereon, shown as integral with the cam. In order that the cam 5'4 may'not turn the far when the pressure o'r'ithe shoes is to" be" relaxed, the handle 62 has al' liig? 6H thereon arranged to project laterally of'tl'i'ep'lar'i'e iri which the handle moves so as to contacts, shoulder-flit (Fig; 3) on the yoke 32 to thereby position the cam 5 so that low point 55of the cam" will stand approximately in contact w'ith'th'e flat soon the bridgeor equalizer 58. It will be un'derstood that the description of the details of'th'fe box IZ'ha's up to this point been limited t6 the portion of the box associated with rod 20 and thatidentical details are also as'sociatedwith the men. In order that box I 2 may not-'b'eac'oidntally attached to both rods 26 and 212: at the same time, theuppe'r part of portion 36' of each yoke 32 has-two alined apertures 68 (Figs; 3"and4) therein in which a pin 10 (Figs.

' 1 ends) may be placedto hold the handle 62 in the position in which the cam 54 notin use is inactive. The handle for the yoke associated with the rod 22, therefore, is in its inactive position and the pin 18 therefore is shown in Fig. 2 associated with the handle corresponding to rod 22. It will be seen further that a cotter pin 72 is used With pin to prevent the pin from working out of apertures 68.

The yoke 32 is held against substantial longitudinal movement relative to the frame l9 of box 12 by engagement of the strap portions 34 and 35 of the yoke with the frame 19, as shown in Fig. 2. Further, to prevent shifting of the shoes 38, 40, 45 and 48 projections 13 are provided on the inner faces of the end portions of frame l9, the ends of the shoes lying in contact with the projections 13.

As appears in Fig. 4, member 58 has a bolt 14 in one end arranged to bear on the mid-point or high point of spring 45, this bolt being adjustable to increase or decrease the pressure of the bridge on the springs and therefore the pressure of the shoes on the rod. A further detail associated with member 58 is that the member has projections 16 at one end and projections 11 at the other, both sets of projections extending transversely of the member nearly into contact with the sides of strap portions 34 and 35 to maintain the member substantially central of the yoke 32 and therefore of the springs 45 and 41. An even more important feature related to member 58 is a means for maintaining it from working longitudinally of the friction box l2 and the yoke 32. This means comprises parallel cheeks or flanges 18 which depend from the member 58 and whose opposite faces are vertical and are spaced apart sufficiently to receive a pin 80 (Figs. 4 and 7). The pin 80 is held against movement longitudinally of yoke 32, and the pin holds the member 58 but without hindrance to pivoting movements or vertical movements of the member. For holding pin 88 against longitudinal movement, the pin is provided with grooves 82 which are adapted to be engaged by side edges 98 forming a vertical slot 84 in the yoke 32, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. The yoke 32 has a cutout portion 86 formed as a continuation of the vertical slot 84 to facilitate the insertion of the pin 3!) into the slot, see Fig. 3. With this arrangement the pin 80 is restrained from movement longitudinally of the yoke 32 and the pin in turn restrains the equalizing member 58 from longitudinal movement relative to the yoke. Further, the pin 8!! acts as a guide to permit the member 58 to move vertically and also oscillate about the pin so that pressure applied to the member by the cam 54 through the springs 45 and 41 will be equally transmitted to the pairs of shoes 38-45 and 48-48, respectively.

It is to be understood that the means generally described hereinabove for frictionally connecting the friction box [2 to the friction rod 20 is duplicated for connecting the box to the friction rod 22.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described by which the above results are obtained, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A friction box for a knitting machine comprising pairs of upper friction shoes and pairs of lower friction shoes facing each other for applying pressure to a friction rod and shoes of each pair arranged one after the other along the rod,

springs arranged to contact upper surfaces of said shoes for applying pressure thereto, and means for applying pressure to said springs and for transmitting it also to the lower ones of said shoes to clamp said rod between upper and lower sets of shoes and comprising a member channelshaped in transverse section and which is in contact with the bottoms of the lower shoes and extends upward on both sides thereof to a level above said springs, an equalizer member resting on said springs and free to turn about an approximately central transverse axis but guided against movement longitudinally of said channel-shaped member, and a cam for pressing downward on said equalizer.

2. A friction box for a knitting machine comprising pairs of upper shoes and pairs of lower shoes facing each other for applying pressure to a friction box rod and shoes of each pair arranged one after the other along the rod, springs arranged to contact upper surfaces of said shoes for applying pressure thereto, and means for applying pressure to said springs and for transmitting it also to the lower ones of said shoes to put pressure on the rod from opposite directions and comprising a member channel-shaped in transverse section and which is in contact with the bottoms of the lower shoes and extends upward on both sides thereof to a level above said springs, a rigid equalizer resting on said springs, a cam for pressing downward on said equalizer, and means for holding said equalizer against movement longitudinally of said chanel-shaped member comprising a round bolt engaging the equalizer and also the central portion of the channel-shaped member but permitting the equalizer to tilt and to move down and up.

3. A friction box for a knitting machine comprising pairs of upper and pairs of lower shoes facing each other for applying pressure to a friction box rod and shoes of each pair arranged one after the other along the rod, springs arranged to contact upper surfaces of said shoes for applying pressure thereto, and means for applying pressure to said springs and for transmitting it also to the lower faces of said shoes to put pressure on the rod from opposite directions and comprising a member channel-shaped in transverse section and which is in contact with the bottoms of the lower ones of said shoes and extends upward on both sides thereof to a level above said springs, a rigid equalizer resting on said springs, a smooth round bolt having grooves therein near its ends, said channel-shaped member having apertures therein adapted to receive said bolt and having channels whose edges engage in the grooves of the bolt to hold it from movement both transversely and longitudinally of the member, and a cam for pressing downward on said equalizer when desired.

4. A friction box for a knitting machine comprising pairs of upper shoes and pairs of lower shoes facing each other for applying pressure to a friction box rod and arranged one after the other along the rod, springs arranged to contact the surfaces of the upper ones of said shoes for applying pressure thereto, and means for applying pressure to said springs and for transmitting it also to the lower faces of said shoes to put pressure on the rod from opposite directions and com- I prising a member channel-shaped in cross-section and which is in contact with the bottoms of the lower ones of said shoes and which extends upward on both sides thereof to a level above tact the top faces of the.- upper ones of said 1: saidz'springs, a; rigid, equalizer resting on said springsand? having spaced flanges, extendingdownwardifrom cits: mideportion; a: smooth; roundb'oltfliavingcgrooves therein neanits: endsrand extendingbetween said flanges, saidchannelshapedmemb'er having apertures therein adapted to: receive: saidi bolt andlformed to support the bolt; and a camfor'pressing: downward on said equalizer whendesired; I

5: A: friction boxfor aknitting machine com prising;pairs-ioftuppershoes and pairs of" lower shoes. facing each. other for applying" pressure tosa: friction boxarod andfarranged one aiterthe other along the rod,-. springs arrangedto con-:-

shoes for applying pressure thereto and means for. applying pressureto. said. springs: and for transmitting; it to the:- bottom faces of the lower ones of said shoestoi put pressure on the; rod

from opposite directions-and comprising a mem ber channel-shaped in cross-section which, isinv contact with the bottornriaces of the lower ones of said shoes and extends upward on both sides thereof to a level above" said springs, a rigid. equalizer. resting on said-springs, asmooth round. bolt engaged: with: said equalizer to prevent movementof the equalizer longitudinally of said channel member, saidrchannel..memberengaged with said boltto prevent movement of the bolt longitudinally thereof and holding the bolt in engaging positionwith said equalizer, and acam.

' for pressing downward. on said. equalizer when desired.

6 A friction box for. aknitting machine come prisingpaiis of. upper and pairs of lower shoes facingeacli. other for applying pressure to a friction box rodQandarranged one after the other along the, rod, springs arranged to contact the top facesof the upper ones of said shoes for applying pressure thereto and'means for'applying. 40 pressuretosaid springs andfor transmitting it to.

the bottom faces of the lower ones of, saidshoes also to put pressure on the rod from opposite directions and comprising a member channel shaped in cross-section which is in contact with the bottom faces of; the lower onesof said shoes and exten'ds'upwardv on both sides thereof to a level" above said springs, a rigid equalizer resting rests on said straight edges, and a cam for press-- ing down on said equalizer when desired.

7. A friction box for a knitting machine comprising two sets of metal shoes for applying pressure to a frictionbox rod, said sets arranged-one after the other along the rod and each having an upperand a lower-shoe, plate springs on top of certain'of said shoes and adapted to bend upwardly intermediatetheir ends-when free of'pressure and means for applying pressure to said springs tending to straighten them and compris ing a channel member whichisih contact'with the bottoms of certain lower ones of said shoes and extends upward on both sides thereof to-a level above said springs, a lever pivotally mounted. in: the sides of; saidlmember; for creating, a

downward;,pressureg impulse, a cam connected to tHI'D-rWithfifildflBVBl; and1a bridge or equalizer contacting;both:saidsprings: aswell as said cam and: free. to; turngabout anaxis intermediate its ends .and; to. move, downward to transmit pressure tosaid springsybut guidedto-maintain a predetermined position longitudinally of said channel member:

8.; Anzequalizer: forairictionbox rigid in use but adjustable transversely of its length, having lateralprojections. approximately atright angles to. said adjustment, adapted to hold it against substantialside-wise movements in use and projections substa-ntiallyparallel to the direction-0f saidadjustment adaptedto hold it against'longitudinal movements in use.

9. In, a. frictionbox: having two sets of shoes longitudinally; ofzthebox,anxequalizer of a length adapting it-to-apply pressure to shoes of both sets and:- having; projections, extending in the direction,tow-ard;said-,shoes:in use and adapted to resis-tmovement of: the equalizer longitudinally of therboxp 10. In,;a friction box having two sets of shoes longitudinally ofzthe box; an-equalizer of a length adapting it. to, apply pressure to shoes of both sets and. a. pin adapted and arranged to resist movements longitudinally of the box, said equalizer having projections. engaging said pin but turnablethereon.

ll. Airiction'box for a knitting machine comprisingpairsof: upper friction shoes and pairs of lower frictionshoesfacingeach other forapplyingv pressure. toa friction rod and the shoes ofv eachtpair. arranged one after the other along the rod, springs arrangedtocontact the upper shoesfor, applying, pressure thereto, and means for applyingpressureto said springs and for transmitting, the pressure to, said lower set of shoes to,-clamp saidfriction-rod between said upper. andrlower setsof shoes and comprising a yoke memberv having. a portion engaging each of said lower shoes an equalizer member engaging said springs and.having. movement along the vertical center. lineof-saidyoke, said'equaiizer also being freeto turntacout atransverse aXis locatedcentrally. of said yoke and a cam on said yok for engaging. the'equalizer to apply pressure to said springs.

12, Alfrictionboxgfor a knitting machine comprising pairs of upper and lower friction shoes facingeach other for applying pressure to a friction rod, said pairs of. shoes arranged one after REFERENCES CITED.

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name. Date 11941.4:192 Richter Dec. 26, 1933 2405;444 Schmidt Jan. 11', 1938 

